Stikfas

STIKFAS are 3.25 inch (8 cm) model assembly figures/toys made by Stikfas Pte. Ltd is based in Singapore. Once built they can be customized with stickers (packaged as Stikers) and different pieces. The design principle behind a STIKFAS is that all of the joints are ball/socket, and offer exceptional poseability, interchangeability, and articulation.

Stikfas are sold as "kits" that include accessories, and Stikers, and additional models (dragon, dog, cat, bike, horse, octopus...) to accentuate the "theme" of each kit.

The debut of STIKFAS was through a successful co-branding in 2001 with the computer game publisher, Electronic Arts. This collaboration provided a proof of concept and Stikfas Pte. Ltd. was incorporated in August. Work began on the first mass production model of the STIKFAS Action Figure Kit, which was made available to public through online sales at www.stikfas.com in December 2001.

From 2002 to 2004, STIKFAS was licensed to international toy giant Hasbro Inc and this move saw a significant increase in its product range, distribution network as well as market recognition. During this period, STIKFAS was awarded the title of "Best Original Concept" in "Best of the Best 2002" by Wizard's Toyfare magazine, the industry's leading publication. That year, STIKFAS came in second for "Most Fun and Innovative Toy" in a consumer's poll by Toyshop Magazine, a revolutionary achievement for a simple plastic toy to earn its place in a category dominated by high tech electronic toy items.

STIKFAS debuted in Japan in the fall of 2003 under the distribution of Tomy Direct Co., Ltd. In February 2005, the first comprehensive fan book about STIKFAS, its products and the people in the company, was published by Hobby Japan, the nation's leading hobby magazine since 1969. This publication reinforced the cult status that STIKFAS had in Japan.

As of June 2006, a plethora of different kits have been released, including Recolors (where only the colors of the parts have changed). Also, numerous different blisters, consisting of a single figure and no accessories, have been released.

The basic STIKFAS style is called the Alpha Male. This is a male-style figure, standing 3 1/4" tall. The earliest STIKFAS used slightly different foot, upper arm, and torso parts than the current model, a style now known as the Classic Alpha Male; the standard Alpha Male is sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Classic" by contrast with the G2 Alpha Male.

The Omega Male is slightly taller and bulkier throughout.

The Beta Female has a feminine shape, is shorter than the Alpha male, and has a different style waist.

The Delta Boy is shorter still. It resembles a child-sized Alpha male.

In 2004, STIKFAS introduced the Generation Two (or G2) Alpha Male. It has additional points of articulation in the knees and elbows.

In December 2005 a new G2 was released. The Gamma G2 Male is larger than the 'Omega', and has the same extraposable knee and elbow joints as the G2 Alpha. The Gamma also has a wider and thicker chest than the Omega. The chest consists of two separate halves that snap together.

In 2006 yet another new body style was introduced, the G2 Sigma Male, which is a tall, slender figure with an elongated upper torso as well as G2-style knee and elbow joints, making it the tallest Stikfas human body yet.

The Mechana Robot is the largest body type, and represents a large mecha-style robot. It has a wide waist with an even wider torso, and a smallish head. Its arms are segmented, allowing for a wide range of flexibility. Its legs, however, are normal with wide feet.

STIKFAS still produces all of these models, and all of their hands ("C-clips"), joints, and pegged parts fit into other STIKFAS products.

The poseability and customizability of STIKFAS action figures has attracted the attention of the online webcomic community. Several artists use out-of-the-box or customized STIKFAS as characters in continued webcomic adventures. The exceptional articulation enables nearly boundless expressions through body-language, while the blank slate faces provide unlimited facial options using Stikers, clay, paint, and/or digital tools. Within these webcomics, customizations to the blank STIKFAS include the addition of hair, facial features, and clothing. Clay, cloth, yarn, thread, and paper are the most common customizing materials. The comics also frequently include unique sets and props, often created by the artist or merely commandeered from other toy lines (Playmobil, Lego blocks, Megabloks, and so on).

A few of the more notable webcomics using STIKFAS action figures include:

Perils of the Bold – This humorous spoof of medieval and high-fantasy storylines uses customized STIKFAS figures and Shockini block figures to depict a band of misadventuring heroes delving into deep dungeons and fighting a variety of monsters. PotB, created by Erik Kjerland, was the first STIKFAS webcomic to digitally add facial expressions to the figures in post-production.

Depth Of Field – A slice-of-life themed comic created by Lauren Tozer-Kilts that uses lightly customized or stock STIKFAS. This comic follows the often supernatural adventures of four friends and roomies. Instead of providing facial expressions on the STIKFAS, Lauren uses emoticon-type faces in speech balloons.

Stuck – This comic pits the various weapon-themed figures in constant and humorous combat on an abstract battlefield. While no faces are included on the blank STIKFAS, the action poses express the belligerence and skill of the combatants.

Sigmartyr – A dark science fiction action comic created by Nick Davis, that is set in a gritty world devastated by a constant conflict between the League Alliance and the Omega Coalition. This comic primarily uses regular and customized STIKFAS figures, along with various GI Joe & Corps vehicle props to tell the story of Sigmartyr. This comic has a mature theme and is presented in an old school grainy Black & White style, with visual effects added in post-production.

The Stikfas company is also hosting yearly stop motion contests at the Comic-Con Convention. The first took place in 2007 and some of the judges included Marc Spess from popular stop motion web site http://www.animateclay.com, and Lionel Orozco from http://www.stopmotionworks.com.

Stikfas also have small square notches on their bodies which allow for rare earth magnets to be inserted. These notches can be found on the upper legs, feet and upper body section. The curved U shaped hands are also the same diameter as the notches. Once inserted into any of these areas, the magnets allow the Stikfas to be posed while adhered to a magnetic surface so they won't fall over.

Stikfas had been used as a product name before, completely unrelated to the current toy figures. Lee Kuan Yew helped to develop a glue based on tapioca, which he sold under the name Stikfas in Japanese-occupied Singapore during World War II. Lee Kuan Yew would later serve as the Prime Minister of Singapore for more than three decades.